Wax Beans Sautéed in Butter, Garlic and Bacon

Wax beans sautéed in butter, garlic and bacon is hands down the easiest and most delicious way to prepare and serve yellow wax or green beans as a side dish that shines in it’s own right. This is the perfect recipe for all your everyday feasts!

This is a such a simple dish to make, I almost feel bad publishing it. Then again, if you’re anything like me then you really only like cooking simple things, and this is one of my all-time favorites! The combination of yellow wax beans, garlic and bacon, in addition to it all being sautéed together in butter, means that what you’ll have on your plate is a little bit of heaven.

If you’re trying to think of something to serve alongside your holiday dinner, or even just your everyday, this recipe is it! It is perfect and savory and quick to make — just right for a side dish on any occasion!

Are wax beans the same as green beans?

First things first, are yellow wax beans the same thing as green beans, just yellow?

That would be a no.

Wax beans and green beans are from the same family, but they are, actually, two very different beans. Yellow wax beans have almost no chlorophyll in them, whereas green beans do. Because of that, wax beans have a much milder and more buttery flavor, and are less prone to becoming mushy when cooked. Their pods aren’t as fuzzy in texture as green beans either, and feel more waxy to the touch — hence the name wax beans.

Yellow wax beans are high in dietary fiber, low in fat and rich in nutrients like vitamin A and C. You can’t usually find them in grocery stores, but they are often available at farmer’s markets in the summer, so you could stock up and then freeze them to use all winter. Or, you could grow them yourself! They are easy and prolific in the garden!

Best Cooking Practices

The trick to cooking yellow wax beans, or any bean really, is not to boil them. Immersing beans in boiling water will break down their cell structure, leading to mushiness, and it will leach away all that good vitamin C. Instead, steam them (using a large sauce pan with steamer insert like this) for only about 3 minutes, or up to five minutes if they’re frozen.

Wax beans sautéed in butter, garlic and bacon

Wax beans sautéed in butter, garlic and bacon is hands down the easiest and most delicious way to prepare and serve yellow wax or green beans as a side dish that shines in it’s own right. This is the perfect recipe for all your everyday feasts! Enjoy!

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes | Serves: 6-8

Ingredients //

1poundyellow wax beans, ends trimmed

1/2tsp sea salt

Ground pepper, to taste

2 tbsp butter

1tbspolive oil

4-6garlic cloves, minced (depending on your preference)

6 strips of bacon, chopped

Instructions //

In a frying pan over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until crisp

While bacon is cooking, steam the beans over boiling water for 3-5 minutes

Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat

Add in the garlic and cook, constantly stirring, just until fragrant (about 40 seconds)

Add in the wax beans and bacon pieces (drained of fat)

Sprinkle on the salt and pepper

Saute for about 3 minutes, stirring and combining all ingredients

Note: You can use fresh green beans in place of the yellow wax beans but, then again, why would you want to?

Please always remember, with this and all the other recipes you find here at Home & Harrow, that this is more of a guideline than anything. Use it as inspiration and tweak it to suit your own personal taste or dietary preferences.

Now go grab a fork and dig in!

If you make this recipe I would love to know! Take a picture and tag it #homeandharrow on instagram! What are some of your favorite side dishes? Have you ever eaten wax beans? Let me know in the comments below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Hi Lacey,
Sounds delicious and easy to make. I always loved waxed beans and with the garlic and bacon would make a wonderful side dish. Sharing on twitter. Have a healthy, happy & blessed Christmas and New Years!

Lacey – I have always wanted to grow wax beans, but haven’t, as of yet. Because of this recipe, they are now going on my seed ordering list for this year. I also want to use them in canning a three bean salad, so now I have double the reason to plant them. Because of our limited gardening space, I am always hesitant to grow something different, but now I can justify that extra row. Yum!